Science, art join forces to preserve species

An elusive yet eye-catching endangered bird living on the floodplains of the Alligator, Mary and Adelaide Rivers in the Northern Territory has been thrown a lifeline by researchers and artists.

Charles Darwin University PhD candidate Robin Leppitt said that the Alligator Rivers Yellow Chat (Epthianura crocea tunneyi) was listed as “Endangered” and was believed to be in decline, with only 27 birds at last survey.

“Despite being listed by the Federal Government as one of the 20 highest priority birds for conservation, the chat remains poorly studied,” Robin said.

Through his PhD Robin hopes to understand the causes and consequences of the species’ rarity to improve its conservation management.

“Working with the Indigenous traditional owners living on the country where the Yellow Chat is found I hope to investigate aspects of its ecology including its habitat use, breeding and relationship with bushfires, to discover its major threats,” he said.

The CDU Art Gallery has helped to raise more than $4000 to assist Robin undertake his fieldwork during his PhD.

A print by local artist Chips Mackinolty, titled “Would that we could fly and sing forever” – his rendition of the Yellow Chat is available for purchase through the gallery.

Robin said his research was vital to prevent the species extinction.

“The main aim of the research is to provide practical and affordable management outcomes for land managers to conserve the subspecies,” Robin said.

“The survival of threatened species such as the Yellow Chat relies upon effective management actions within limited budgets, which are far more easily devised with up to date and accurate ecological data.”